Civvy Street Read Online Free

a halt and, for those officers and men not directly affected, the news receded into the background. In fact, for the vast majority of the 1 Herts’ soldiers who subscribed to an I’m-all-right-Jack mentality, the whole business was largely forgotten. However, this was not the case in the Collins’ household where matters were getting increasingly tense.
    Mike had been on a course run by a recruiting agency designed to teach the redundant officers the best way to present their CVs, how to market themselves, how to write really excellent letters when applying for jobs and how to conduct themselves in interviews. It was, Mike had told Susie on his return, mostly basic common sense but it had been useful all the same. Armed with his new skills and fired with enthusiasm, Mike had scoured the appointments sections of the quality papers and fired off loads of applications. And now they were waiting for the replies.
    Mike returned home from work at lunchtime as he usually did. After dropping his beret onto the hall table, he picked up his post; three letters, personally addressed to him so not spam. His heart rate quickened; he knew what these would be. Eagerly he ripped open the first envelope.
    Dear Major Collins, We regret to inform you...
    Fuck. He opened the next.
    Dear Major Collins, While Bingham and Co appreciate your eagerness to work for this company, it is with regret...
    Shit. He opened the last.
    Dear Major Collins, We are sorry...
    Bollocks.
    He felt his shoulders slump. He had been sure he’d been in with a cracking shot for all of those positions. He’d had the qualifications, the experience, the know-how. And he wasn’t over the hill. He was still young; he was only in his mid-thirties, for heaven’s sake. Wasn’t that the perfect age; young enough to still be open to new ideas and working practices but old enough to have plenty of experience? Angrily he screwed up the letters and stamped into the kitchen.
    Susie looked up from the pan of tomato soup she was stirring. She saw the look on Mike’s face. ‘What’s happened now?’
    ‘Rejections. Three of them.’
    Susie walked over to her husband and gave him a hug. ‘There’s other fish in the sea. It’s early days yet.’
    Mike sighed. ‘I just... Well, I thought I’d be beating offers off with a stick.’
    ‘You will be, I’m sure of it. So who’s turned you down?’
    Mike uncrumpled the letters and smoothed them out on the table. ‘This lot.’
    Susie glanced at the letterheads. ‘Obviously companies with no taste and possibly worse management skills. You’ve probably had a lucky escape.’
    She turned back to the stove and began to dish out the soup. ‘Anyway, I’ve been thinking...’ she said as she ladled their lunch into a couple of bowls.
    ‘And?’
    ‘You know McManners, the mess manager, is being given the heave-ho too?’ Mike nodded. ‘Supposing I applied to do his job.’
    Mike shook his head. ‘No.’
    Susie put both bowls on the table and sat down. ‘Why not? I understand basic accounting having run the thrift shop, I understand about catering and, God knows, I understand about 1 Herts. I’d be perfect.’
    ‘It wouldn’t be appropriate. It’s not a job for an officer’s wife.’
    Susie raised an eyebrow. ‘I hate to tell you this, sweetie, but when this job falls vacant I won’t be an officer’s wife.’
    Mike stared at her, his spoon halfway to his mouth. ‘That was a bit of a low blow.’
    ‘Don’t be so touchy, it’s the truth.’ She stared at Mike. ‘I’m going to apply.’
    ‘I’d rather you didn’t.’
    ‘It’s a job. It’s income. Anyway, I may not get it.’ Susie tucked into her soup.
    Mike considered what Susie had said about not getting the job and wondered if he could make sure she didn’t. It wouldn’t be ethical but it might be possible. It was a sergeant’s job, not one for a major’s wife. It would be demeaning. And how would she cope with complaints from junior officers – officers